Cricket is a batsmen’s game and the T20 format is like an accelerated version of that very batsmen’s game. Unless you are having an exceptional day or on drugs or an actor playing the role of a bowler in a movie, chances are you’re going to be taken to the cleaners.
Emerging Bowlers That Bowled You Over This IPL
Yet this year we’ve unearthed some real gems of the game who even though have been around for a while, have finally stamped their name on the world stage this season of Vivo IPL 2016.
Adam Zampa
The successor to Shane Warne, well at least as far as his acting goes. Coming into an already depleted Pune Supergiants line up, the rookie leg spinner has adapted brilliantly and become the spin spearhead for Dhoni’s side.
His figures of 6/19 against Hyderabad are the second-best ever in IPL history and if how bowling stint this season is anything to go by, we have a real talent on our hands.
Axar Patel
Apart from the utterly obnoxious way he spells his name, he’s a half-decent bowler on most days. The last match against Pune being an exception to the aforementioned statement where Dhoni treated Axar Patel like Bollywood treats Uday Chopra.
Considered to be a ‘modern all-rounder’ by some, on his day he can be handy with the bat chipping invaluable contributions to the teams’ cause.
Barinder Sran
Having made his debut against Australia when he was literally unknown to the cricketing world, Sran has come of age in this season’s IPL.
Hyderabad paid 1.2Cr for his services; they’ve got a more than worthy return with the 23-year-old has picked up 9 wickets at an economy of under 8.
His variations in pace during the middle/end overs have been crucial to the strength of SRH’s bowling.
Jasprit Bumrah
Being touted as India’s future spearhead in the limited and shortest formats of the game, Bumrah has burst onto the world stage during the last 6 months with an explosive performance during the T20 World Cup.
With 14 wickets to his name this season, Bhumrah has been the opening and the closing trump card for Bombay. His death bowling has been likened to that of Malinga and with a bit more control and accuracy, he’d be knocking on the doors of the Indian test team.
Mustafizur Rahman
The find of the IPL, the primary reason why Hyderabad’s bowling is regarded as good as it is and one of the most bright and upcoming talents who might even get to play for India if he can cross borders as well as he can bowl Yorkers.
This Bangladeshi gem has been an absolute revelation this season with 14 wickets and an economy rate of UNDER 7. At only 20 years of age, he is probably the hope of the Bengal tigers’ future international cricketing endeavors.
Sandeep Sharma
Another Indian who seems to be knocking on the doors of the National team. Sandeep Sharma has been consistently performing well in a below-par Kings XI team.
Having missed a lot of action last year due to injury, he’s well and truly back to his best and on the back of an impressive Ranji season where he claimed 28 wickets, Sharma presents a good claim to be in the squad for the upcoming series for India.
These talented players will only strive and improve in the future and under the guidance of some of the most experienced coaches in the world.
The biggest benefit and upside of the IPL is unearthing talent that is relatively unknown to the sports fraternity and we’ve been blessed yet again with similar results again this season.
